Apparatus for teaching sight singing



Sept. 25, 1928.

lM. B. RocK APPARATUS FOR/TEACHING SIGHT SINGING Filed Nov. 4; "1921 5Sheets-Sheet WlTNESSES ATTORNEY Sept. 25, 1928.

l M. B. RocK APPARATUS lFOR TEACHING SIGHT summe Filed Nov. 4., 1'927 5Sheets-Sheet 2 mvENToR '/Kjoc ATTORNEY REV .Sept 25, 1928. i 1,685,682

' M. B. ROCK y APPARATUS FOR TEACHING SIGHT SINGING Filed Nov.4, 1927 ssheets-sheet 3 M BY www ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

PATENT* or 1,685,682 Fics.

MICHAEL n. nook, or NEW Yoann. Y.

"APPARATUS FOR l'rnMannerSIGHT sINGING.

` Application kfiled November 4, 1927. Serial No. 231,125. f f

The present-.invention is `concerned with the provision lof adevice forfacilitating the teachingbf music,' particularly the lteaching of musicinschools or in' pl-acesfwhere aflarge group of students are tobehandledvat one time. f A

The ordinary methodofblackboard in-` struction is'a laborious andtedious one for both the pupils and the teacher, and has not provenparticularly effective inasmuch as the average childpis unable to 'singby sight even after prolonged coursesin blackboard instruction. f f

`vIn accordance Ywith the present invention I overcome the inherentdefects common to the old method of teaching singing and utihze anapparatus which may be conveniently manipulated by theteaclier todisplay Inusi calnotes on 'a staff board. y Preferably the apparatus,includes a; stall' board member provided with a number oflights.represent ing notes on the scale. These; lights are con`- filltrolledfb'y a keyboard"'manipulated by-"the teacher and-after Soundingthe fundamental tone the students will quickly learn tosing;

at sight the notes rdelineatedy by` the .lights flashed on the staffboard.

` One advantage of this kapparatus is that the key-board may beconveniently manipulated'by anyone having a superficial familiarity-withmusic rand the stati' board with its flashing lights will provesufficiently intriguing to engage the entire attention of the studentswhile the lessonis in progress.y The relation of note. location to soundis highly accentuated by the apparatus and the stud ents after becomingfamiliar with the device are able to singreadily a series ofnotesoratune by following the lashinglights ont-he staff board. ff f Other andmore general objects of theinvention are'to provide an apparatus :ofthis nature which is yconveniently portable so that the ,teacher maycarry it about fromone classroom rto anotherran apparatus of simplepractical construction which will be rugged, durable and efficient inuse, and well suited to vthe requirements of economical maniifacture andconvenient manipulation.

With the above noted and other objects in View, the invention consistsof certain novel features of construction and rcombinations andarrangements of Lparts as will be more fully hereinafter described andrpointed out Ain the claims. f ,v

yThe invention may be more fully undern stood from the followingdescription in conf nection with `the accompanying drawings wherein--` yf-,

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the apparatus with the coverremoved to expose the staff board. I l Fig. 2 is a View in rearelevation, with a section of one ofthe rear Vdoors broken away toexposeythe interior ofthe box.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View on the line 3*-3 of Fig. 2. f

Fig. 4 is a vertical `sectional View` on the line fit-4: of'Fig. 3. A

Fig. 15 is a plan view of theinner staff bearing face of the cover.

Fig. .tnisa wiring diagram. Generally speaking, the apparatus inr cludes:i housing and a number of signal lamp-s, which lamps, when lighted, arervisible vthrough openings in; a staffboard"v at they front ofthehousing.- The rear `of the housingmay be conveniently opened to gainaccess to the lamps and lamp sockets lfor, purposes of repair and thelamp controlling keyboard is arranged on a rearextension'of the lowerend of the box and maybe conven-Y iently manipulated by a teacherstanding rigidly connected to the top, bottomr and sides of the box andthe member V11 beingin the natureof"r a 'false or .protectivecover forthe l,staff board. The grooves 12 are 'formed 1n inner faces offorwardlyy projectingrails- 1'6 carriedby the Vtop and bottom and Oneside of the box and a nlatingrrail lcarried by the sliding cover 11 hasa mitre fit with the ends of adjacentrails when the cover .is in place.Preferably the sliding'cover on its inner face also carries the`representation of a staff 18' (Fig. 5) which mayf'prove useful to theinstructor and 'servesas a blackboard if necessary.` The box bottoinltis rearwardly-extended to deinethe bottom of. a-switch compartmentv r19arranged Abeneaththe keyboard 20 of the device. Compartment 19ycommunicates Idirectly withtlie rlower end of the main com- Ypartmentof the boXi in ,which the lamps 21 (lll are arranged, theselamps being carried upon diagonally disposed socket supporting slats 22.v w .7, A.

The rear wall of the lboxer'rather It'l'i'at portion of the rearwallnlying between the box top and the keyboard is formed by a pair ofswinging doors 23 hinged as at 24 to the rear edges of the members andwhen in fully opened position exposing. the slats 2Q and the wiring forthe lamps. The compartment 19 whichv houses the keyboard switches isclosed by a rear wall 26. The wall 2G constitutes the forward wall of amaster switch compartment Q7, the latter being formed by a wall 26,extended boXbottom 14, and a removable switchV housing plate 2S ofgeneral l. shape in cross section and formed at its end with forwardextensions lying beside the ends of the keyboard laterally of switchcompartment 19. Y

The keyboard 2() is normally concealed by the use of cover plates 29hinged at 3() to the lower edges of the swinging doors 23 and carryingat their free edges flanges which space the covers Q9 above thekeyboard. A rearwardly projecting lip 33 on each flange 32 radapts thecover members 29 for use as a music rackV when they areswung to theelevated dotted line position of Fig. 4. In this position I haveindicated a sheetof music at 34, the lower edge of which is supported inthe corner defined by the flange 3Q and lip 33 and the upper edge ofwhich rests against the doors 23.

The stad board 15 in addition to bearing the representation of a musicalstallc is provided with a series of openings 35 representing thepositions of the naturalnotes of a 'scale on the staff, this rowofopenings 35 extending diagonally across thel staff board in parallelismwith one of the lamp supporting slats 2Q. Two additional rows ofopenings 36 and 37 are arranged in parallelism with the row of openings35. The openings 3G designate the flats of the naturals and the openingsB'TClesignate the sharps. The names ot' the notes rather than theirletter symbols are printed directly beside each of the openings 35, 36,37. the names being accompanied in the case of flats and sharps by theflat and sharp symbols. The legends on the face of the staff board tendto familiarize a student with the names of the notes Iat the same timehe is learning to associate note positions with tonal sounds.

Y Ilor purposes which will more fully'hereinafter appear, each row ofopenings eX- poses a different colored row of lamps. rI he lamps whichshine through ythe openings 35 and represent natural notes are'preferably white. The lamps representing flatted notes are blue, whilethe lamps representing sharp'ed notes are red. This color scheme may bechanged to suit local requirements,

but it is preferred because it permits the nationalr colors toloe-flashed, onthe Yboard when the master switch 1s thrown in a mannertobe later described.

Vhile'I do notwi'sh to limit myself in this respect, I preferably makethe openings 35, 36 and 37 of sufficient size so that a burnt out lampconveniently removed through them without disturbing the positions ofany of the socket bearing members 22. y I

Each lamp 21 is electrically connected to one of the keys ofthe keyboard20. These keys Fare also arranged in three rows, a row of keys 35controlling the lamps for natural notes, keys 36"L controlling the lampsfor the flatte'd notes, rand keys 37n controlling the lamps for thesharped notes. Y The keys are depressible to closethe individua-lswitches 25 and establish an electricall connection th'ro'ugh'theindividual lamps 21. The key legends may be `printed either upon thekeyboard or upon the keys proper, 'it being lessential of course thatthe instructor be provided with some identification means for the switchcontrolling keys. l A f In vorder that the apparatus may be entirelyself-contained I mount a transformer' in the bottom of the boxmor casingand provide a series of compartments '41 in that portion ofthe casingwhichis not'occupied by the slats 22. These con'lpartments carryrearwardly opening hinged doors 42 accessible when the box doors 23 havebeen opened and may be used to store supplies and spare parts for therapid nrepair and maintenance of the teaching apparatus.l l n sHousedwithin the compartment 27 is a master switch 'includinga switchbar 45 c arried by a. pair of rocker arms 46 pivotally mounted onsupporting brackets 46 projecting rearwardly from the wall 26, Theswitch bar includes an operating handle 48 `projecting rearwardlythrough an opening 49 in rthe closure member 28. lVhen the switch bar isswung forwardly by pushing the handle43 inwardly it simultaneouslycontacts with a series of spring arms 47 mounted on the wall Q6 andserves to elfe-ct simultaneous lighting of all of the lamps and thedisplay. of the national colors on the stall board. Universal customdirects the. singing of the national anthem at thel close of each musiclesson in the schools and the flashing of the national lun lll)

colo-rs may serve as a. signal for the rendition of the anthem by thestudents.

lVith the exception of the mainswitch 48 the other switch mechanism maybe of any convenient or conventional nature and I have therefore notattempted to disclose the jde- .y

tails of the switches25. The manner in which these switches areconnected to thev transformer. the signal lamps andthe main switch,however, is clearly apparent from the wiring diagram wherein cuits fortwo ofthe lamps and on'iitting showing other complete circuits to avoidan unnec- I have shown complete ciressarily complicated drawing.`Circuits forl the other lamps are identical with the illustratedcircuits'of the lamps do and dot,

Controlling the dot switch 25`is depressed a circuit is completedthrough. the dot lampy and pilot` light 56. l The pilot light partitionincidentallygis preferably visible at one side ofthe keyboard, as bestseen' inFig. 3. Circuits vfor the remaining `lamps thc/saine as thatdescribed for t-he dot lamp. y Eachelead wire 53 isconnected byanauxiliary rlead 58 to one off the spring contacts 47 and the mas` terswitch bar is connected by afconductor 59 to the masterwire 55, thuswhen the nias-r ter switch bar 45 is swung against the contacts 47acircuit iscompleted through all'ol! the lamps. This circuit beingthrough leads 53,58, contacts 47,-bar 45r and leadl, .the pilot lightbeing again in circuit. u

vIt is believed that vtheA manner of operatingA tlic'deviceywill befullyapparent from the foregoing'(lescriptio'n, but inaybebriey describedas'follows :v 1 f I The apparatus isset up ony a convenient desk ortable, the cover ll removed to cxpose the stati board to the pupils'.`The teacherv standing behind they apparatus raises the switch boardcovers 29'supporting avsheet of music as indicated in F ig. 1 and aftersound.- ing the fundamental tone and' Apressing a switch to show'theposition of they i'i'unda? `mental tone on the staff board mayv proceedwith the'lessom'pressing the desired switches and direct-ingthe classtosing by sight from the ylight-swliich appear onthe staffl board.

`Any suitable means such Vtor vinstance as the klock (SO niay be usedkfor locking theswingiiig doors 23 and other'mi'ivable parts ot theapparatus andthe apparatus may be' conveniently translfioited bythe useof tlie'handle Glonthetopoftheboxr.` .l f f bvously vvarious slightchanges and alterations ii'iaybe made in the general form andarrangement of theparts described without departing from the spirit of4the invention and 'hence ,l do not wish to limit myself to the precisedetails 'set lorth but shall consider myself at liberty to make suchchanges and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim: i

1. An apparatus for teaching sight singing including a casing, a staffboard disy played on the front of the casing, lamp 'bulbs i flashed onthe .statf board representing notes on the staff board, switchescontrolling the individual lamps, a key-'board arranged on a rearwardextension of the casing and including keys for operating said switches.

E2. An apparatus for teaching sight singing including a. casing, a staffboard displayed on the front of the casing, lamp bulbs representingnotes on the staff board, switches controlling the individual lamps,akey-board arranged on a rearward .extension of the casing and.including keys for voperating said switches,and a master switch forsimultaneously lighting all of said lamps.

' 3. An apparatus for teaching sight singing including a casing, astaflboard displayed on the front of the casing, lamp bulbs representingnotes on the staff board, switches controlling the individual lamps, akey-board arranged on a rearward'extension of the casing and' includingVkeys for operating saidy switches, and a master switch forsimultaneously lighting all of said lamps, the lamps being arranged inthree parallel oblique lines across the stall' board, the linesrepresenting naturals, sharps and flats, and the respective lines oflamps being colored red, white and blue, whereby the Vnationalcolois maybe when the master switch is operated. p A f 4f. A portable apparatusfor teaching sight singing comprising a casing including top` bottoniand side walls, a rearward box-like extension at the lower end of thecasing. a keyboard arranged on said extensioiiaiid iiicludinga pluralityofswitch controlling keys, a staff board at the frontV ofthe casing,lamps representing. musical notes associatcdwith the' staff board andcontrolled by the switches.

portable apparatus for teaching sight singing comprising a casingincluding top,

bottoni and sidewalls, a rearward box-like extension at the lower endofthe casing, a keyboard arranged on said extension andincludingaplurality of switch controlling keys, a staff board at the front of thecasing, lamps representing musical notes associated with the statiboard'aud controlled by the switches. the stati' board having openingstherein, the

lampsbeing carried on diagonally arranged lamp-supporting slatsconcealed within the casingand arranged to display the lamps through theopenings.

` 6. A portable apparatus for teachingsight casing and arranged todisplay the' lamps through the openings, there beingithrec rows otopcningsand lamps representing natural notes, sharp notes and tlattednotes of the musical scale.

7. A portable apparatusl tor teaching sight singing comprising a casingincluding top', bot-toni and side walls, a rearward box-like extensionvatthe lower end ot the casing, a keyboard arranged on said extension andincluding a plurality o'r' switch controlling` keys, a stall board atthe tront of the casing, lamps representing niusicalnotes associatedwith the stati board and controlled by the switches, keyboard covermembers hinged to the rear ot the box and serving as a music-supportingrack when in upwardly swung position.

8. EL portable apparatus for teaching sight singing comprising a casingincluding top, bottom and side walls, a rearward bozolike extension atthe lower end of the casing, a keyboard arranged on said extension andincluding` a pluralitv ol switch controlling keys, a

sta-ll board at the-trent ol' the iasing, lamps representing musicalnotes associated with. the statlI board and controlled by the switches.doors deliningthe rear wall of thel casing, and' a plurality otlamp-bearing devicesarranged within the casing and accessible throughthe doors.

t). A portable apparatus forteaching sight .singing comprising a casingincluding top, bottom and side walls, a rearward box-like cx* tension atthe lower end ot'v the Iasing, a'leey boa rd arranged on said` extensionand including. a plurality ot' switch controlling keys,

a stall board at the frontv of the casing, lamps-V representing musical1 notes associated withy the stall board and controlled by the switches,doors defining the rear wall el the casing, and a plurality oflamp-bearing devices arranged within the easing and accessible throughthe doors, said lamp bearing devicescomprising a plurality ot paralleldiagonally disposed slats carrying lamp sockets.

l0. A portable apparatus for teaching sight singing comprising a casingincluding top, bottom and side walls, a rearward box-like extension atthe lower end ol the casing, a keyboard arranged on said extension andineludin a plurality ot switch controlling keys',` a stall board at thetrent ot' the casing, lamps representing musical notes associated withthe staltboard andleontirolledby the switches,y doorsk defining the rearwall of the casing, and a plurality of lamp-bearing devices a1- rangedwithin the casing and accessible through the doors, said lamp bearingdevices comprising a plurality otparallcl diagonally extension at thelower end ot the casing, a

keyboardarranged on said extension' and including a pluralitv ot' switchcontrolling keys,

a stall board at tlie lrontfolt the-casing, lamps representing musicalnotes associatedwiththe stall board and=controlled by the switches, arearward extension associated with the keyboard anda master switcharranged insaid extension tor simultaneously lighting all ot' thelights.

l2. A portable apparatus lor teaching sight .singing comprising aycasing including top,l bottomfand side walls, a rearward boxlikeextension at the lower end ot' the` casing, a.

keyboard arranged onsaid extensionzand including a pluralityot switchcontrolling keys, a statt board at the front ot the casing, lampsrepresenting musical notes associated with the stall board andcontrolled by the switches, and a sliding cover adapted toV conceal thestall board.

13. A portable apparatus for teachingsight singing comlnising acasingvincluding top,

bottom and side walls, a rearward boi-like extensionatthe lower endT ofthe casing, ai keyboard arranged on said extension andincluding` aplurality ot switch controlling keys, a stati1 board at the front of thecasing, lamps representing musical notes. associated with. the stalll.board and controlled by the'switches, and a sliding cover adapted toconceal' the stall' board, -said cover on its inner tace bearing theblank representation of a musicalstall' and being adapted to serve as ablackboard.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State ot New York,this 28th day ot' October, A. D. 1927.

MICHAEL B. ROCK.

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